Nick Nurse’s biggest contribution with Sixers might go beyond X’s and O’s

Early in the season, Nick Nurse was on Tyrese Maxey. He only asked that you play aggressively and take 20

Early in the season, Nick Nurse was on Tyrese Maxey. He only asked that you play aggressively and take 20 shots per game.

Nurse would call it out to the present reporters if Maxey completed with fewer than 20 shots, stating that he wanted his new lead guard to be more aggressive.

Consider that.

This is your fourth season in the NBA. It wasn’t quite your 23rd birthday. As the current MVP of the league, you are your team’s backup option for the first time this season.

Furthermore, your recently appointed head coach—who has been named Coach of the Year and won a championship—is advising you to take more shots.

It’s a fantastic method of boosting a rising player’s confidence.

Maxey stated last week, “I come from Coach [John Calipari at Kentucky], who believes in his players, but he also believes in his players building their own confidence.” Thus, I’ve developed my own confidence via effort alone.

“And to have coaches like Cal and Nurse who genuinely believe in you, support you, and challenge you to reach your full potential. Because they believe in more people than just me, Coach Nurse and his coaching staff have my utmost respect and gratitude. Everyone who dons a costume and puts it on is someone they believe in.

Nurse has received praise for his tactical work in his debut season as head coach. Before suffering a recent knee injury, Joel Embiid had a fantastic season because to his offense, and Maxey was selected to his first All-Star team. As he devises his defensive strategies akin to a crazy scientist, he has managed to win over players.

Perhaps the most significant action taken by Nurse this season has been to put his new players in charge. Ricky Council IV is an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract, while Joel Embiid is a superstar. Nurse has made sure to empower everyone of his players this season.

Allen Iverson and Tim Hardaway are at odds over a signature move.

“Well, I want them to play with a lot of confidence, don’t I?” said the nurse. And I’m hoping they’ll make the appropriate plays. Additionally, you’ll need to take the ball in the paint and make the appropriate play if you’re being forcefully pushed inside the three-point line.

The smartest trade Daryl Morey made at the trade deadline was to acquire Indiana Pacers shooting guard Buddy Hield. With 1,860 three-pointers made in his career, Hield has established himself as one of the NBA’s top shooters. Since Hield entered the league, only Stephen Curry—the all-time leader in three-pointers made—has made more three-pointers.

Hield’s fitting in with Philadelphia was evident. When it comes to three-pointers, the Sixers were among the NBA’s least influential teams. They were lowest in the league in terms of percentage of points from three before to Hield’s arrival. You always need to surround Embiid with willing and competent shooters.

Hield has demonstrated, however, that he is far more than simply a standstill jump shot through four games. In addition to being a strong ball handler, he has averaged 7.5 assists per game while playing for the Sixers. In the team’s loss to the Heat last Wednesday, he even dished out a career-high 10 assists.

Hield has experienced a similar sense of empowerment to Maxey in the short time he has been playing for Nurse.

Hield remarked, “He makes the game really fun to play.” It’s a liberated kind of play. He writes plays for all the people. He simply knows his players, and he is aware of guys’ habits. He provides you with chances to play, enjoy yourself, and be carefree. He’s not breathing down your neck and yelling at you. It’s exciting to play for a coach like that because he brings such enthusiasm and enjoyment to the game. He uplifts you and gives you confidence. When you play for such a coach, you don’t have to worry about anything. It’s enjoyable that he wants you to be forceful.

Yes, the Sixers would still be a strong team without Nurse, Maxey would be enjoying a fantastic season, Hield would be a perfect fit, and Embiid would still probably look like a world killer.

However, the players’ newfound confidence, which the head coach has helped instill, cannot be understated.

“Coach Nurse, thank you,” Maxey remarked. “Maybe before the Hawks game, I texted him to let him know how much I value him and how he’s truly allowed me to grow and play through mistakes. He has my gratitude for it.

It seems like a change from the previous individual.

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